Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 10
By Fidan Babayeva - Trend:
The offices of wine producing companies have switched to the remote work, but the production itself continues in a simplified form via shift work, Chairman of the Azerbaijan Wine Manufacturers and Exporters Association Elchin Madatov told Trend on April 10.
“Like many food production companies, alcohol producers are also gradually arranging online sales,” Madatov added. “The agreements have been reached with courier services which are delivering the products within Baku.”
“Some companies deliver the products through their sales representatives,” the chairman added.
"The products of Azerbaijani wineries are widely represented in all chain and grocery stores throughout the country, and anyone may freely purchase any drink in grocery stores," the chairman said.
Touching on the topic of export of products, Madatov emphasized that a very sharp decline has been observed since March 2020.
“The products were mainly supplied to Russia and China,” the chairman said. “The export of wine to China has been completely ceased due to COVID-19 virus. The total trade turnover with this country also decreased.”
“The depreciation of the Russian ruble rate greatly affected the export to Russia, which accounts for over 80 percent of the supply of Azerbaijani wine,” the chairman said. “Azerbaijani wine has become expensive for Russian buyers. The excise taxes on alcohol have been increased in this country since this year.”
“There was a smooth increase in export volume till last year,” the chairman added.
"The export volume increased by more than 29 percent in 2018,” the chairman said. “The export of alcoholic beverages declined slightly by 5 percent in 2019 compared to 2018 amounting to $7.3 million."
The main producers-exporters of Azerbaijani wine are Sheki Winery, Jalilabad Winery, Ganja Winery and Goygol Winery, as well as a number of private companies involved in the production of alcoholic beverages.